Hank forming machine and method



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HANK FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD l0 SheetsSheet 10 Filed Oct. 2. 1961 vJr: via-(triers famsfijeef jgczrf ,z'rncsrzcfs 6100625 wfayrcey-s UnitedStates Patent 3,097,771 HAWK FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD James E.Kerrigan, Arlington Heights, and Raimonds Grikis, Chicago, Ill.,assignors to Chicago Printed String Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofDelaware Filed Oct. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 142,422 20 Claims. (Cl. 223-46)This invention relates to the forming of hanks of ribbon particularlyadapted for forming decorative bows. More particularly, this inventionpertains to a new and novel method for efficiently forming a hank ofribbon designed to form a decorative bow and to new and novel machinesfor forming such hanks.

In the commercial sales field, there is an apparently growing practiceof packaging various items with embellishments, such as bows, previouslyassociated only with individual gift wrapped packages. Also, manydepartment stores, novelty stores and similar sales organizations make apractice of wrapping gifts in a very decorative manner, often utilizingfancy and individualistic bows formed from ribbon or similar materials.In addition, there is an increasing practive on the part of manyindividuals of adorning gift packages with pro-formed decorative bows.In each of these areas, the desire is to utilize a bow which has afinished, sophisticated and individualistic appearance such as hasusually been associated with bows manually formed by persons havingparticular skill in preparing such decorative items. However, the manualforming of bows by skilled personnel is of course quite expensive andimpractical if attempting to meet a large market demand, i.e. in thenature of several million bows per year. Consequently, a requirement hasarisen for methods and machines adapted for efficiently and inexpensively producing decorative bows. Further, particularly in thesupplying of large volumes of similar bows for producer or distributorpackaging of entire lines of items such as candy, bottled spirits, andthe like, it is necessary to provide machines capable of high volumeproduction of such bows.

An illustration of a recently developed bow designed to serve at least asegment of the present and prospective market as outlined above is thebow disclosed in copending patent application Serial No. 61,641 of T.Paar. This bow is formed from a hank of ribbon which is secured to abase member with two opposite side portions of the hank in generallyparallel side-by-side relation and with the connecting portions of thehank forming conoidal loops. A bow is formed from this hank by unnestingthe individual ribbon layers of the end loops to form a pleasingsymmetrical bow having several individual aligned conoidal loops orpetals. The present invention is directed to a method and machines forefficiently, and economically producing banks for such bows and isfurther directed to providing a method and machines for producing suchhanks on a large volume basis. For purposes of clarity and simplicityonly, the invention will be described and explained in terms of theformation of hanks of the type described above, however it is intendedto encompass such other variations as will occur to those skilled inthis art in light of the teachings herein.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a method andmachines for forming hanks adapted to form decorative bows as outlinedabove.

It is another object of this invention to provide a simple andexpeditious method for forming hanks of ribbon particularly adapted forforming decorative bows.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method for forminghanks of ribbon designed for forming decorative bows and which method'isparticularly adapted for expedient embodiment in apparatus formechanically carrying out the method.

3 ,0'9777 Patented July 16, 1963 'ice It is another object ofthisinvention to provide an im-' proved hank forming machine formechanized, high volume production of ribbon hanks particularly designedfor forming decorative bows. I

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved machinefor mechanically forming a coil of strip material and applying a basemember to such coil in a manner whereby a hank having generally parallelcoplanar side portions may be efiiciently and economically produced. 7

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent to thoseskilled in this art upon a study of the following description, thedrawings and the appended claims.

In carrying out this invention in one illustrative form, a hank formingmachine is provided which includes means for winding a predeterminedlength of ribbon into a composite coil of several coextensive contiguouslayers, support means for maintaining opposite portions of the coil inspaced relation to one another, mechanism for placing. a base member onthe coil with portions of the base member adjacent the noted oppositeside portions of the coil, and securing means for applying securingdevices to independently secure the base member to each such oppositeportion, whereby a ribbon hank is formed having two generally conoidalloop end portions and two opposite portions joining the looped endportions, the opposite portions normally being in generally coplanarparallel side-by-side relation.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference shouldnow be had to the following discussion and to the exemplary embodimentsillustrated in the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a general perspective view, omitting some details, of a hankforming machine employing the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 isa top plan view, on a larger scale, of the machine in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation view of the ribbon feeding,metering and winding mechanism taken substantially along the lines 3-3of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows but with the coverof the winding chamber in closed position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevation view, partially in section, of part ofthe coil winding and collapsing mechanism of the machine illustrated inFIG. "1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the ribbon winding housing andpart of the related support and drive mechanism of the machineillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view, taken substantially along line 66of FIGS. 4 and 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial side elevation view of the turret, ribboncoil supporting devices and stapling means of the machine illustrated inFIG. 1, but with two of the ribbon coil supporting devices omitted forclarity;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged top plan view'of one of the ribbon coil supportingdevices of the machine in FIG. 1';

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view taken substantially along line 99 ofFIG. 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. is an enlarged rear elevation view of the loop sizing mechanismtaken substantially along line 1010 of FIG. 2 and looking in thedirection of the arrows;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged side elevation view of the base strip applyingmechanism of the machine in FIG. 1, and also illustrates the appliermechanism as extended to engage one of the ribbon coil supportmechanisms on the turret;

FIG. 12 is a partial vertical cross section view of the mechanism inFIG. 11 taken substantially along line 1212 of FIG. 2- and looking inthe direction of the arrows;

FIG. 13 is a side elevation View of the opposite side of the mechanismin FIG. 11, and includes the mechanism of FIG. 10;

FIGS. 14 through 21 illustrate various steps in a method of forming anddischarging a ribbon hank as carried out with the machine of FIG. 1,with FIG. 21 illustrating an alternative discharge mechanism; and

FIG. 22 illustrates a hank resulting from the method of formationillustrated in FIGS. 14-20, in the process of being formed into a bow byunnesting the end loops.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the major components of the ribbon and ribbonloop manipulative mechanism are shown in general form to illustrate thegeneral arrangement of this machine but with some details omitted. Inoutline, a ribbon metering feed mechanism 30 directs predeterminedlengths of ribbon into a ribbon winding housing 31 to form a multilayercoil of ribbon. A rotatable turret 32 carries four ribbon coil grippingdevices 33 to four predetermined operating positions for carrying outthe various operations and forming a hank. Referring now also to FIG. 2,these four positions will be referred to herein as positions I, II, IIIand IV starting at the winding housing and moving clockwise. A ribboncoil sizing apparatus 34 and a base strip applying mechanism 35 arepositioned adjacent to position II. Two opposing stapling mechanisms 161and 162 are disposed one above and one below the plane in which a ribboncoil is supported by the ribbon coil gripping mechanism in position III.A suitable hank discharge mechanism is provided at position IV fordischarging the formed hanks into a suitable receptacle (not shown).Suitable drive and control means for operating the various disclosedelements may be provided beneath the framework and within the housingsillustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the ribbon feedmechanism 30 which withdraws ribbon 44 from an indeterminate lengthsupply, such as the spool 39 illustrated in FIG. 1, and intermittentlyfeeds predetermined lengths of this ribbon into the winding housing 31includes a pair of supply rollers 40 and 41 and a pair of metering feedrollers 42 and 43. The supply rollers 40 and 41 withdraw ribbon 44 fromthe spool 39 to maintain a loose supply of ribbon in reservoir 45.Rollers 40 and 41 may be driven from any suitable power source through avariable speed or start-stop drive connection. Feed roller 42 isconstantly driven by a suitable power source such as motor 46 throughdrive belt 460. Roller 43 is an idler and is mounted on rocker arm 47which is pivoted at 47a for selective movement of the roller into andout of engagement with ribbon 44 passing between rollers 42 and 43 toeffect intermittent feed of the ribbon between the feed rollers andthrough a slot 48 in guide plate 48a to the winding housing 31.

The feeding operation is controlled through a suitable feed timingmechanism 49 which operates a feed control hydraulic valve 50. The feedcycle is started by an impulse switch 51 actuated by a bell crank 52 inresponse to movement of the ribbon coil collapsing fingers 70 and 71, tobe later described. Appropriate movement of the bell crank 52 actuatesimpulse switch 51 which in turn trips timer '49 to actuate valve 50.Valve 50 passes fluid to a hydraulic cylinder 53 which thereby rotatesarm 47 in a clockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 3) and urges roller43 against the ribbon 44 and the ribbon against roller 42. The ribbon 44is thus clamped between driven roller 42 and idler roller 43 whereby therollers feed the ribbon into the winding housing 31. During the feedingmovement, roller 43 is rotated under the influence of roller 42 indirect proportion to the length of ribbon passing between the rollers.The idler roller 43 is drive-connected to the timer 49, as through atiming belt (not shown). Timer 49 permits a predetermined amount ofrotation of roller 43 then trips valve which deactivates cylinder 53 topermit counterclockwise rotation of rocker arm 47 whereby idler roller43 moves away from driven roller 42 and the feed of the ribbon isstopped. As idler roller 43 moves downward, it engages a brake memberwhich is biased upwardly by springs 56 to stop roller 43 and preventoverrun in the feed of the ribbon. The feed mechanism is then inposition to be recycled to feed the next successive predetermined lengthof ribbon upon being actuated through suitable movement of the bellcrank 52 as aforedescribed.

In the illustrated machine, a variable speed transmission 57 is drivenfrom belt 46:: and is suitably drive connected to roller 41. The speedratio of the transmission, and hence the speed of rollers 40 and 41 andthe rate of feed of ribbon to reservoir 45, is controlled through asuitable control lever 58 positionable against an adjustable stop 58a.Lever 58b is connected to suitable mounting means for moving roller 40away from roller 41 for stopping the feed of the ribbon to thereservoir.

A movable cutting bar 59 is moved in proper sequence, as by a suitablycontrolled hydraulic cylinder 60, and cooperates with the exposed end ofplate 48a to cut the ribbon at the outlet end of slot 48 after eachribbon feeding cycle.

Referring now additionally to FIGS. 4 and 5, the illustrated ribbonwinding housing 31 constitutes a hollow cylindrical housing defined by aplate 61, a curved wall portion 62 adjustably fixed to plate 61, amovably mounted wall portion 63 which complements fixed wall portion 62,and a pivotally mounted removable cover or end plate 64 which ispositionable to close the cylindrical housing. Movable wall segment 63is fixed to an arm 65 which is pivotally mounted as at 66 and biased tomovement in a clockwise direction (as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4) againstan adjustable stop 67 by a tension spring 68. Spring 68 thus normallymaintains the movable section 63 in a position defining a closed housingof a predetermined diameter but permits slight yielding movement of thissection to increase the effective diameter of the housing under thepressure of certain types of ribbon being coiled in the housing. Thecomplementary curved walls 62 and 63 define a slot as at 69 opposite theoutlet end of slot 48 to receive the ribbon which is directed into thehousing generally tangentially of the cylindrical housing enclosure. Dueto the manner in which the ribbon is supported and directed into thehousing, ribbon having suitable body and friction characteristics willspiral along the inner curved wall of the housing and form a multilayercoil therein when an appropriate length of ribbon is forced inwardthrough slot 69. It will be appreciated that as a coil of ribbon isformed, the innermost turns must assume circular shapes of successivelylesser diameters if the diameter of the housing is maintained contant,due to the increasing thickness of the ribbon coil. Some ribbonmaterials which are very smooth and have low coefiicients of friction asto both surfaces have been found to automatically adjust to such lesserdiameters; one such ribbon material is a decorative tying tape productSatintone produced and sold by Chicago Printed String Company ofChicago, Illinois. Other ribbons, such as laminated tapes having ahigher coefiicient of friction as to one or both surfaces have beenfound not to adjust as readily to the lesser diameters as the coil isformed, hence for such tapes it is necessary to provide one yieldablyadjustable side 63 of the housing to permit the housing to expand tosuccessively larger diameters as the coil is formed; an example of thelatter type of ribbon materials is the decorative typing tape productChiprene produced and sold by Chicago Printed String Company of Chicago,Illinois.

The Winding housing 31 is formed with diametrically opposed slotsthrough the curved sidewalls to receive a pair of coil collapsingfingers and 71. The slot 72 to receive the upper finger 70 is formedbetween bifurcated segments of one end of the movable curved wall 63while the corresponding opposite slot to receive the lower finger 71 isformed through the end portions of both curved wall portions 62 and 63.The fingers 70 and 71 are reciprocated inwardly through these slots,subsequent to the formation of a ribbon coil in the housing, to collapsethe coil in the manner generally illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15. A slideplate 73, for supporting and directing the ribbon, retracts when finger70 is extended downwardly but substantially narrows slot 69 while finger70 is retracted during the ribbon coiling operation. Plate 73 is movedto and fro between the two positions illustrated in FIG. 4, in propersequence, by appropriate actuation of a hydraulic cylinder and pistonelement 75 which includes a piston rod 76 connected to the slide plate.The winding housing and related mechanism, are supported on a pair ofslide rod 77 and 7 8 which are slidably supported in bushing members 79and 30 mounted on the machine framework. A mounting block 81 is carriedon rods 77 and 78 and in turn supports a support block 32 to which issecured the wall plate 61 of the winding housing. The structuresupported on rods 77 and 78 is reciprocated by suitable means such as ahydraulic piston and cylinder element 83 secured at one end to a fixedmounting such as bushing 79 and having a piston rod 84 secured tomounting block 81.

Fingers 70 and 71 are carried by a pair of racks 85 and 86,respectively, slidably mounted in the mounting block 81 and retainedtherein by cover plates 87 and 80-. The racks are reciprocably driven bya pinion 39 mounted on rotatable shaft 90 which is in turn rotatablyoscillated by a rack 91 and pinion 92 at its opposite end. Rack 91 maybe reciproeably driven by suitable means such as a hydraulic cylinderand piston element 93 mounted on slide rods 77 and 78 through member 93aas illustrated in FIG. 5. Suitable actuation of the element 93reciprocates rack 91 thereby causing rotary oscillation of shaft 90 andconcomitant reciprocation of racks 85 and 86 and fingers 70 and 71.

Cover plate 64 is carried on a shaft 95 which is rotatably mounted inwall plate 61. The shaft 95 is drive connected to shaft 90 through atiming belt 96 and pulleys 97 and 93 mounted on shafts 90 and 95,respectively, and thus is rotatively oscillated in response to movementof shaft 90 to move cover plate 64 between its closed positionillustrated in FIG. 3 and its open position illustrated in FIG. 4.

It will be appreciated of course that the winding housing may beadjusted to form coils of ribbon of diiferent diameter such as byadjusting the position of the fixed curved Wall 62, through anadjustable mounting as at 99, by adjusting the pivotal mounting point 66of movable wall 63, and/or by adjusting the stop 67. Alternatively,curved wall portions of different diameters may be substituted. Fingers70 and 71 may be correspondingly adjusted on racks 85 and 86 byproviding adjustable mounting slots as at 100.

Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 2, 7, 8 and 9, the illustratedmachine includes four coil gripper mechanisms 33 equally spaced aboutthe periphery of rotatable turret 32. The turret 32 is supported on avertical drive shaft for rotation by any suitable drive mechanism, suchas a four-position Geneva cross gear drive, for moving the grippermechanisms to the four stations of the machine.

Each of the coil gripper units 33 is supported on the turret 32 on amounting block 101 and includes an anvil 102 suitably secured to themounting block and extending radially outward of the turret 32' in'agenerally horizontal plane. The upper and lower surfaces of the distalend of the anvil may be formed with staple clinch ing grooves or detents103 as indicated. A pair of gripping fingers 104 are pivotally mountedon block 101 above the anvil 102 with resilient grippers 106 opposed tothe fiat upper surface of anvil 102 at each side of detents 103,adjacent the opposite edges of the anvil. A second pair of gripperfingers 107, each including a resilient gripper 106, are similarlymounted on block 101 beneath anvil 102 generally opposite the fingers104. Fingers 104 and 107 are normally urged to the closed position, withgrippers 106 against the opposite sides of anvil 102, by a linkage andspring mechanism indicated generally at 108. This mechanism may takevarious forms but as illustrated includes links 109 and 110 pivotallyjoined to the inward ends of fingers 104 and.

10 7 respectively and pivotally joined to one another and to block 111by engaging a pivot pin 112. Block 11 1 is slidably engaged on a pin 113which is secured to block 101 and extends inwardly therefrom. The block111, and consequently the joined ends of links 109' and 110, arenormally biased to an outward position, wherein fingers 104 and 107 arepivoted to the gripping position illustrated at position 111 in FIG. 7,by a compression spring 114 confined between block 111 and a nut 115 onthe distal end of pin 1113. A bell crank lever 116 is pivotally mountedon a pin 117 and is provided with a bifurcated portion 11 611 at itsupper end normally engaging block 11 1 astraddle pin 113 as illustrated.The opposite end of arm 11 6 includes an abutment member 118 adapted forengagement by a plunger, such as is indicated at 119, for movement ofblock 111 against the force of spring 114 and thereby to open thegripper fingers as illustrated in FIG. 9. A plunger such as 119, whichmay be actuated by a suitable hydraulic cylinder and piston element (notshown), may be provided at each position wherein it is desired to openthe gripping fingers. In the illustrated machine such hydraulic elementsare appropriately disposed to selectively open the gripper fingers atpositions I, II and IV for purposes to be later described.

The anvils or center supports 10 2 are disposed to be in axial alignmentwith the winding housing 31 when in position I and when the housing isextended toward the turret. As the illustrated slide rods and hydraulicelement move the housing axially, this places the anvils of this machinealong an extension of the axis of the housing when in position I. With acoil of ribbon collapsed as in FIG. 15, inward movement of the housingpositions the collapsed coil astraddle an anvil 102. and and with theopposing upper and lower portions of the coil hetwen the respective opengripper fingers and the anvil, to be gripped upon closing of thefingers, see FIGS. 1 and 16. After the grippers are closed and thehousing retracted, the turret drive is cycled to rotate the turret andthe gripped coil is carried to position II. The mechanism at position IIcooperates with the gripper mechanism to size the coil and to apply abase strip to the collapsed coil.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 2 and 10 -13, the mechanismillustrated at position 11 includes a coil Sizer 34 and a base stripfeeder and applier 35, both of which include parts reciprocable towardand away from a gripping mechanism in position II. A housing 120 servesas a support for the operative mechanism which includes a slidablymounted horizontal plate 121 and attached vertical plate 122reciprocably driven by a suitable actuating means such as a hydrauliccylinder and piston element 120a.

The sizing mechanism 34 (FIGS. 2, 10 and 13) includes a pair of cranlkarms :123 and 124 supported at the inward side of plate 122 on shafts125 which are rotatably mounted in the plate 122. Shafts 125 areoperatively joined to a crosshead 126 through arms 127 and links 128.Crosshead 126 is mounted for vertical reciprocating movement by asuitable drive means such as a hydraulic cylinder and piston unit 129which is also supported on plate 122. Sizing pins 130 protrude inwardlyfrom the distal ends of links 123 and 124 and are movable, on actuationof unit 129, between the positions illustrated in FIG. 10. Thisactuation takes place While the sizing unit is extended by the hydraulicunit 122 with pins 130 projecting into the opposite end loops of a coilin position II as illustrated in FIG. 17, and serves to size the coil,particularly the innermost turn of ribbon which often tends to be looseand considerably smaller than the superposed turns.

The base strip feeding and applying mechanism 35 illustrated in FIGS. 2and 1113 includes a pair of feed rollers 131 and 132 for intermittentlyextending the free end portion of an indeterminate length of stripmaterial 133 to a position generally between plate 121 and an anvil 102in position II, see FIG. 11. The strip 133 passes through a guide 134,between rollers 131 and 132, and thence upwardly through slot 135 inplate 136. With reference to FIG. 13, the feed rollers areintermittently actuated by forward movement of plate 121 through a camplate 137 carried on plate 121, a follower 138 on rocker arm 139, aconnecting link 140, a bell crank rocker plate 141 mounted on pivotedshaft 142, a tension spring 143, and a one-way clutch drive (not shown)connected between shaft 142 and one of the rollers 131 and 132. Thelength of tape fed during each movement of this drive mechanism iscontrolled by an adjustable stop 144 which limits the rotary returnmovement of plate 142. Overrun of the tape feed is prevented byproviding a brake drum 144a which is drive-connected to the rollers andby providing a brake spring 144b on am 139 for engaging drum 144a at theend of the work stroke of arm 139.

Plate 121 also carries a pair of presser members 145 and 146 and aresiliently mounted sliding plate 147 carrying a presser shoe 148, seeFIGS. 2, 11 and 12. The presser plates are spaced apart approximatelythe thickness of anvil 102 and are biased toward one another bycompression springs 149 on mounting bolts 150 extending through plates145, 121 and 146. Plate 147 is slidably supported on plate 121 by studs151 and 152, extending through slot 153 in plate 147 and into plate 121,and is yieldably biased forwardly by tension spring 155 connectedbetween stud 151 and a stud 154 mounted in plate 147. A second cam plate156 is con nected to plate 121 and positioned to urge follower 157against the abutment portion 158 of shear plate 159 and thus toreciprocate plate 159 and cut the base strip 133 at 169 as plate 121 ismoved forward.

In operation, as plate 121 moves (forward, the feed rolls are activatedto extend the base strip tape as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 18. Presserfoot 148 then engages the extended end of the tape against the end of ananvil 102 under the force of spring 155, and cam 156 actuates the shearplate 159 to cut off the end portion of the tape. Plates 145 and 146fold the cutoff portion of tape over the ends of grippers 106 and theportion of the ribbon coil therebetween, as indicated generally in FIG.19 and more particularly in the changedposition portion of FIG. 11.While the tape and coil are thus gripped by plates 145 and 146 and shoe148, fingers 104 and 107 are opened and permitted to re-close by anactivating element, such as a plunger 119, at position II to therebyengage the base strip under the grippers 106. The reciprocable elementsof mechanisms 34 and 35 are then retracted and the turret drive isoperated to carry the coil and applied base strip to position III.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 7 and 20, at position III the grippermechanisms 33 support the coil of ribbon and the superposed folded basestrip between a pair of 8 suitable staplers 161 and 162. These twostaplers are positioned in opposition to one another and are eachdisposed to apply a securing device such as a staple through the portionof the base strip overlying the adjacent side of the ribbon coil andthrough this adjacent side of the coil to secure the base strip and thecorresponding adjacent layers of ribbon together. In this machine thisis accomplished by forming a U-shaped staple from a length of wire 163and forcing the legs of the U through the adjacent portion of the basestrip and layers of ribbon and into detents 103 of the anvil which serveto clinch the legs of the staples. Each of the staplers may be of aknown conventional type, and actuated by any suitable means controlledwith relation to the operation of the remaining portions of the hankforming apparatus.

Subsequent to the stapling operation, the turret drive mechanism isagain operated to move the stapled hank from position III to position IVwhere the hanks are dis charged from the machine to a suitablereceptacle (not shown). The discharge mechanism 33 may be in the form ofa tube and valve for applying a hydraulic blast as indicated in FIG. 1or may be a suitable kicker mechanism such as the rotatably mountedshaft 164 and protruding fingers 165 illustrated in FIG. 21. Shaft 164is suitably driven for rotative oscillation between the two positionsshown in FIG. 21 for kicking the hanks from the grippers in position IVafter the fingers 104 and 107 are opened, as by a suitably operatedplunger 119 disposed at this position. A similar gripper openingmechanism would also be included with the hydraulic discharge device.The turret drive is now operated to move the empty gripper mechanism toposition I to receive another coil.

Operation and Method The novel method of this invention and theoperation of the illustrated machine may be summarized and describedwith references to FIGS. 14 through 21. A predetermined length of tape44 is first formed into a coil 166, as illustrated in FIG. 14, byfeeding the tape into the hollow cylindrical housing of the windingmechanism and severing the coiled tape from the supply. The fingers 70and 71 are then extended into the housing to collapse coil 166 into thegeneral form illustrated in FIG. 15. The housing and collapsing fingersare extended, as indicated in FIG. 16, to position the collapsed coilastraddle a support member or anvil and with opposite collapsed sides ofthe coil beneath gripping fingers disposed opposite each side of thesupport member. The gripping fingers are then closed against the supportmember to hold the coil astraddle the support, and the winding mechanismreturns to its initial position for forming another coil, whereupon thegripping mechanism moves from position I of FIG. 16 to position 11indicated in FIG. 17. At position II the loop sizing mechanism isextended to place pins within the end loops of the coil and the sizingmechanism is then operated to move the fingers outwardly to size thecoil as indicated in FIG. 18. Simultaneously thestrip of tape from whichthe base strips are taken is extended adjacent the outer side of thecoil. The presser foot and clamping members of the base strip applicatormechanism are then extended and the base strip 167 is cut from thecontinuous tape 133 and folded about the parallel sides of coil asillustrated in FIG. 19. While the base strip and coil are held by theclamping members, the gripping fingers 104 and 107 are opened and againclosed to bring the edges of the base strip beneath these fingers. Thepresser foot, clamping members and sizing mechanism are then retractedand the clamped coil and base strip, being held as indicated in FIG. 21,are carried to position III. At this position, illustrated in FIG. 20,securing devices are independently applied through each end portion ofthe base strip and the adjacent portions of the coil, against anvil 162,whereby the respective end portions of the base strip and the adjacentportions of the coil are independently secured together. The stapledhank is then carried to position IV Where it is discharged by a suitablemechanism as indicated in FIG. 21. The result is a hank having generallyparallel coplanar side portions disposed in sideby-side relation asindicated in FIG. 22, and from which decorative bows can readily beproduced by unnesting the individual ribbon layers of the end loopportions 168.

It will be appreciated that with the illustrated machine each. of theaforedescribed operations at positions IIV may be simultaneouslyperformed on successive coils associated with the four grippermechanisms thereby pro viding rapid high volume hank production.

The terms strip material, tape and ribbon as used herein are notintended to be restrictive phrases, but are intended to include anyelongated flexible material Which can be manipulated and formed in thegeneral manner described. Two specific examples have been given ofsuitable decorative strip materials for forming coils for hanks, and itwill be apparent that other tapes, ribbons, or the like, having similarcharacteristics may also be utilized. As indicated, tapes of differentsurface friction characteristics and different degrees of body mayrequire alterations of the Winding mechanism. With certain types ofribbon it may even be more desirable to utilize a revolving drum orother appropriate coiling or winding mechanism, all as is known topersons skilled in this art.

The tape material from which the base strips are out should be fairlystiff and quite resilient so that it will open the hanks approximatelyto a position as indicated in FIG. 22 subsequent to being folded aboutthe hanks for the stapling steps. This strip may also conveniently serveas an applicator for securing the resulting bank or the ultimate bow toa package as by utilizing a tape having a heavy paper backing with anadhesive mass on its exposed surface. The adhesive mass may be giveninterim protection by means of a removable paper cover sheet, in awell-known manner. An example of a suitable base strip-applicator tapeis a pressure sensitive, protective covered tape product K-leen-Stiksold by Kleen-Stik Products, Inc,, Chicago, Illinois.

In preparing the coil 166 and transferring it to the gripper mechanism,due regard should be had to positioning the ends of the ribbon of thecoil so that these ends will ultimately extend beneath but terminaterather closely adjacent the superposed portions of the mounting strip.This eliminates the possibility of a single ribbon end extending amongthe formed loops of the resulting how when the end loops of the bank areunnested, and thus assures a pleasing appearance of the resulting bow.In one model of the illustrated machine actually constructed, control ofthe ribbon feeding and metering mechanism was obtained by providing afour-way, solenoid actuated, spring return, lapped spool valve, soldunder the designation of Hi-Cyclic by the Beckett- Harcum Company ofWilmington, Ohio, for valve 50 The solenoid of this valve was controlledby a countertype timing mechanism 4 9 drive-connected to feed roller 43by a timing belt as aforedescribed. With this arrangement, thepositioning of the ribbon ends was controlled within a tolerance ofapproximately one-half inch, which was found to be satisfactory.

It will be obvious that various modifications of the specific embodimentillustrated herein may be made in light of the above teachings, by thoseskilled in this art, without departing from the spirit and scope of thisinvention in its broader aspects. For example, different winding meansmay be utilized, diiferent discharge means may be incorporated, varioussecuring devices may be applied by different well-known securingmechanisms, various other movable support arrangements may be providedfor the gripper mechanisms, and many other details of con- 10 structionmay be altered within the scope of the invention herein. In addition, asregards the method, various steps may be carried out by hand or by othermachines.

An illustrative hand-operated hank forming apparatus incorporating themethod disclosed and claimed herein, in its broader aspects, isdisclosed in a copending patent application of the applicants herein,Serial No. 79,909", filed December 30*, 1960.

It will thus be seen that a novel improved hank forming machine has beenprovided which illustrates and incorporates a novel, simple andexpeditious method for forming :hanks of ribbon particularly adapted forforming decorative bows, and which machine is capable of mechanicallyand automatically forming such hanks on an economic, high volumeproduction basis with a minimum of manual labor or personal attention tothe machine.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in this art that the illustratedmachine embodies a combination of operative mechanisms which cooperateto obtain the broader object set forth herein and that other specificstructural elements may be substituted for certain of the elements ofthis combination without departing from the spirit and scope of thisinvention. At the same time, it will also be appreciated that thedisclosure teaches various improved subassemblies which are novel andembody inventive concepts, apart from the overall combination ofelements. For instance, certain of the novel subassemblies mayadvantageously be incorporated in hank forming operations wherein othersteps, such as securing the base strip to the coil and/ or dischargingthe bows, are manually performed.

While particular embodiments of this invention are shown and/ordescribed above, it will be understood, ofcourse, that the invention isnot to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made by thoseskilled in the art in the light of the foregoing teachings. It iscontemplated therefore by the appended claims to cover any suchmodifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of thisinvention.

We claim:

1. A machine adapted for forming a hank designed to form a decorativebow comprising in combination anvil means, means for supporting amultilayer coil of ribbon encircling said anvil means, and a pair ofsecuring means for applying separate securing devices to opposing sideportions of such coil against said anvil means.

2. in a machine adapted for forming a hank designed to form a decorativebow, anvil means, support means for holding a multilayer coil of ribbonwith opposite side portions of the coil on opposite sides of said anvilmeans, means for placing a mounting strip with a pontion adjacent eachof such opposite side portions of said coil, and securing means forapplying a separate securing device to the portion of the mounting stripand side portion of the coil on each such opposite side of said anvilfor independently securing said mounting strip to each such oppositeside portion of such coil.

3. In a bank forming machine, winding means for forming a length orribbon into :a composite coil of several contiguous layers of ribbon, aplurality of work supports mounted for movement to a plurality ofpredetermined positions including a first position adjacent said windingmeans, means for moving said work supports between said predeterminedpositions, each of said work supports including means for supporting acoil of ribbon with two opposite portions of such coil in spacedadjacent relationship, means for transferring a coil from said windingmeans to one =Olf said work supports in said first position, meansadjacent a second of said predetermined positions for folding a flatresilient base strip onto such coil at such second position withopposite end portions of such strip overlying such opposite portions ofthe coil, and securing means for independently securing such oppositeend portions of said base strip to the adjacent portions of such coil onsaid supports.

4. In a hank forming machine a in claim 3 and including coil sizingmeans adjacent said second position and engageable within ribbon coilson said work supports fior sizing the inner turns of a coil at saidsecond position.

5. In a hank forming machine, winding means for forming a generallycylindrical coil of several coextensive contiguous layers of ribbon, acantilever support and retractable gripping means engageable withopposite sides of said support spaced axially of a coil vformed andsupported by said winding means, said winding means being reoiprocablymounted for movement to a position wherein such formed and supportedcoil surrounds said cantilever support, means for placing portions ofsaid coil art opposite sides of said cantilever support between saidsupport and said gripping means whereby said coil is gripped and heldwith opposite side portions independently supported, and securing meansfor securing the layers of each of said opposite portions togetherindependently or such securing of the layers of the other of saidopposite portions.

6. In a hank forming machine as in claim 5 and including applicatormeans for folding a base strip over said cantilever support and thegripped portions of such coil with opposite end portions of such stripoverlying said opposite side portions of said coil, and wherein saidsecuring means is adapted to secure opposite portions of such trip tosaid opposite portions of said coil.

7. Ina hank forming machine, Winding means for forming a generallycylindrical coil of several coextensive contiguous layers of ribbon, acantilever support and retractable gripping means engageable withopposite sides of said support for supporting a coil of ribbon with twoopposite portions thereof in spaced adjacent relationship, said supportand gripping means being mounted for moveent to a plurality ofpredetermined positions, means for moving said support and grippingmeans between said positions, means for transferring a coil from saidWinding means to said support and gripping means in a first of saidpositions, sizing means adjacent a second of said posi tions including apair of pins reciprocably supported for movement into position withinthe end loops of a coil on said support and gri ping means, means forreciprocating said pins and means for oscillating said pins mutually outwardly to size said coil, and securing means for securing the layers ofsuch opposite portions of such coil together independently of suchsecuring of the layers of the other of said opposite portions.

8. In a hank forming machine, a coil support mounted for movementbetween a plurality of predetermined positions and means for so movingsaid support, said support including a cantilever member and grippersengageable with opposite sides of said cantilever member forindependently supporting opposite side portions of a coil, base stripapplicator means disposed adjacent one of said positions; saidapplicator means comprising feed means for placing a base strip adjacentbut transverse to the distal end of said cantilever member, reciprocablebase strip applying means including a resiliently mounted abutmentmember for holding such base strip against the distal end of saidcantilever member, a pair of spaced presser members resiliently biasedtoward one another and normally spaced apart a distance approximatelythe thickness of said cantilever member, and mean for reciprocating saidpresser members to and from a position astraddle said cantilever memberfor folding such stnip over such coil; and means for operating saidgrippers to engage and hold such base strip over such coil.

9. In a hank forming machine, a hollow cylindrical receptacle, feedmeans cooperating with said receptacle to form a hollow cylindrical coilof several coextensive contiguous layers of ribbon in said receptacle, awork support mounted for movement to a plurality of predeterminedpositions, means for moving said Work support between said predeterminedpositions, said work support including a cantilever support member andretractable gripping means for holding opposite portions of a coil ofribbon on opposite sides of said cantilever support, said cantileversupport being in alignment with said receptacle when in a first of saidpositions, said receptacle being slidably mounted for movement to aposition surrounding said cantilever support, means for placing oppositeside portions of such coil beneath said gripping means, coil sizing andbase strip applicator means positioned adjacent a second of saidpredetermined positions and reciprocably mounted for movement intoengagement with a coil held by said cantilever support and gripper meansat said second position, means for reciprocating said sizing means, saidsizing means including a pair of pins disposed to intersect the endloops of a coil at said second position, means for oscillating said pinsmutually outward when engaged in such loops to size a coil; saidapplicator means comprising feed means for placing a base strip adjacentbut transverse to the distal end of said cantilever support, aresiliently mounted abutment member for holding such base strip againstthe distal end of said cantilever member, and a pair of spaced pressermembers resiliently biased toward one another and normally spaced aparta distance approximately the thickness of said cantilever member; meansfor reciprocating said presser members to and from a position astraddlesaid cantilever member for folding such strip over such coil, and meansfor operating said grippers to engage and hold such base strip over suchcoil.

10. A bank forming machine comprising a hollow cylindrical ribbonreceptacle having a peripheral ribbon receiving slot, intermittentmovement ribbon metering feed means for feeding predetermined lengths ofribbon through said slot into said receptacle generally tangentially ofthe inner periphery of said receptacle, opposed coil collapsing fingersmounted for movement radially inwardly of said receptacle for collapsinga coil of rib bon therein to an oblong form, said receptacle and fingersbeing mounted for translational movement axially of said receptacle, arotatable turret, a plurality of coil grippers mounted on said turretfor movement to a plurality of predetermined positions including a firstposition in axial alignment with said receptacle, each of said girppersincluding a flat anvil and a pair of gripping fingers normally engagingsaid anvil on opposite sides thereof, spring means for biasing saidfingers toward said anvil, means for selectively moving said fingersaway from said anvil, hank sizing means and a mounting strip applicatoradjacent a second of said predetermined positions, said applicatorincluding a support slidable inwardly toward and outwardly away from agripper in said second position, feed means actuated by movement of saidsupport for feeding a predetermined length of a mounting striptransversely of the free edge of an anvil and supported hank in saidsecond position, an abutment member slidably and yieldably mounted onsaid support in alignment with an anvil in said second position to abutsuch anvil upon inward movement of said support, clamp members mountedon said support on opposite sides of said abutment member andresiliently biased toward one another, said clamp members positioned toslide over an anvil in such second position, adjacent said grippers, oninward movement of said support, operating means for driving saidgrippers to receive and retain a mounting strip While said clamp membersare extended inwardly, hank sizing fingers mounted on said support andpositioned to enter each end of a hank supported on an anvil in suchsecond position, a pair of staplers at a third of said positionsdisposed one on each side of an anvil in such position, said staplerspositioned to apply separate staples to the portion of a mounting stripand ribbon on each side of an anvil in such position, hank dischargemeans at a fourth of such positions; and drive means for operating saidribbon feed means, said gripper fingers, said turret, said staplers andsaid discharge means, and for reciprocating said support and moving saidfingers mutually outward for sizing coils.

11. A machine adapted for forming a hank designed to form a decorativebow comprising in combination means for winding a length of ribbon intoa composite opencentered coil of several coextensive, contiguous layersof ribbon, support means disposed in alignment with the open center ofan annular coil supported by said winding means and engageable withinsuch coil for maintaining opposite portions of such coil in spacedrelation to one another, and means flor applying a securing devicethrough the contiguous layers of each such opposite portion of a coil soengaged on said support means independently of such application of asecuring device to the contiguous layers of the other such oppositeportion.

12. A machine adapted for forming a hank designed to form a decorativebow comprising in combination anvil means, a pair of spaced opposedsecuring means for applying securing devices against opposite sides ofsaid anvil means, and means for supporting a multilayer coil of ribbonand positioning such coil around said anvil means with opposite sideportions thereof between said anvil means and said opposed securingmeans, whereby separate securing devices may be independently applied tosuch opposite side portions of such coil and against said anvil means bysaid securing means.

13. A machine adapted for forming a hank designed to form a decorativebow comprising in combination means for winding a length of ribbon intoa composite opencentered coil of several coextensive contiguous layersof ribbon, support means disposed in alignment with the open center ofan annular coil supported by said winding means and engageable withinsuch coil for maintaining opposite portions of such coil in spacedrelation to one another, and means for simultaneously applying securingdevices through the contiguous layers or each such opposite portion andagainst said support means.

14. A hank tfiorming machine comprising in combination means for'forming a length of ribbon into a composite coil of several contiguouslayers of ribbon, such coil comprising two end portions and two spacedopposed side portions, support means engageable Within a coil supportedby said iforming means and between said side portions for supportingsaid side portions in spaced relation to one another, means for applyinga mounting strip to a coil on said support means with portions of suchstrip overlapping such side portions, means for applying a securingdevice through each such overlapping strip portion and the underlyingcontiguous layers of the respective side portion of a coil engaged onsaid support means independently of such application of a securingdevice to the other overlapping strip portion and respective underlyingside portion.

15. A method of forming a hank adapted for forming into a decorative bowcomprising winding a length of ribbon into a coil having a plurality ofcontiguous superimposed loops, said coil including two end loop portionsand two opposing side portions having inner and outer surfaces, forminga mounting strip with opposite end por- 14 tions over the correspondingsurfaces of said opposing side portions and with a portion of said stripextending between said surfaces at one :edge of said coil, andseparately securing each of said side portions to the adjacent portionof the mounting strip.

16. A method of forming a hank adapted tor forming into a decorative bowcomprising winding a length of ribbon into a coil having a plurality ofcontiguous superimposed loops, said coil including two end loopportionsand two opposing side portions having inner and outer surfaces, forminga mounting strip with opposite end portions over corresponding surfacesof said opposing side portions and with a portion of said stripextending between such surfaces at one edge of said coil, separatelysecuring each of said side portions to the adjacent :end portion of themounting strip, and spreading said mounting strip whereby said sideportions are placed in generally parallel sideaby-side relation.

1 7. A method of forming a bow comprising the steps recited in claim 16,and separating each loop of ribbon of said end loop portions from eachother loop to \form a decorative how.

18. A method of forming a hank adapted ifior forming into a decorativebow comp-rising winding a length of ribbon into a multilayer coil;collapsing said coil to place two opposite side portions in closelyspaced, generally parallel relation; positioning a base strip with oneend portion thereof adjacent one of said opposite side portions andanother end portion thereot adjacent the other of said opposite sideportions, and with an intermediate portion joining said end portions atone edge of said hank; securing each of said end portions to therespective adjacent side portion and securing the layers of each suchside portion together independently of such securing of the other ofsaid end portions and the other of said side portions, and substantiallyflattening said base strip to place said side portions in generallyparallel side-by-side relation.

19. A method of forming a bank as in claim 18 and wherein the base strippositioning step comprises forming a resilient strip over one edge ofsuch coil and over the outer surfaces or said side portions.

20. A method of forming a hank as in claim 18, and including a step ofsizing the inner turns of said coil prior to securing the layers of saidside portions together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.23,835 McMahon June 8, 1954 1,641,288 Neidich Sept. '6, 1927 2,335,053Gluck Nov. 23, 1943 2,654,980 Dexter Oct. 13, 1953 2 2,691,469 Willig eta1. Oct. 12, 1954 2,884,169 Sperry Apr. 28, 1959 2,905,368 Runyan Sept.22, 1959

2. IN A MACHINE ADAPTED FOR FORMING A HANK DESIGNED TO FORM A DECORATIVEBOW, ANVIL MEANS, SUPPORT MEANS FOR HOLDING A MULTILAYER COIL OF RIBBONWITH OPPOSITE SIDE PORTIONS OF THE COIL ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID ANVILMEANS, MEANS FOR PLACING A MOUNTING STRIP WITH A PORTION ADJACENT EACHOF SUCH OPPOSITE SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID COIL, AND SECURING MEANS FORAPPLYING A SEPARATE SECURING DEVICE TO THE PORTION OF THE MOUNTING STRIPAND SIDE PORTION OF THE COIL ON EACH SUCH OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID ANVILFOR INDEPENDENTLY SECURING SAID MOUNTING STIP TO EACH SUCH OPPOSITE SIDEPORTION OF SUCH COIL.